Hi BabyLemonI wasnt really sure there was a problem until 2yrs in- i thought that could be normal but realised wen my DH brought up the fact that with no contraception in previous relationships i had never had 'late scare'Now 3 yrs in and having fertility testing done

It depends on your age. We knew before we were TTC that we were going to have problems. However after about a year they also tested DH (he had never had a scare either and he came back perfectly normal so just cause you never had a scare doesn't mean anything)

If you think something is wrong or you have conceived before then go regardless of age. However they say 12+ for under 35's and 6+ for over 35's

After 6 months TTC i went and saw my GP....but more because i knew there was an issue as i wasn't getting AF, so like he said, there's an obvious issue so may as well start finding out what that is. I'm very grateful he didn't tell me to wait.

We started by having regular blood tests to check whether or not i was ovulating. After than it was an internal ultrasound which confirmed PCOS. He put me on medication which got AF going, kind of, but no BFP. After months of this, i got a referal to a FS. She wanted to put me on meds too, but first i had the tube dye test to ensure there wasn't a blockage of any kind. No point taking the meds if there's a blockage.

First round of TTC after that dye test i got my BFP.

Not sure if it was the test, coincidence or the fact that i chilled knowing i was in the good hands of my FS.

Now officially ttc over 7 months, but close family members have had issues so just wondering whether I should go and get checked out. Hmmm. May start off with Drs appoint to discuss concerns and go from there.

mrs.b, I hope something good happens for you soon and glad to hear you did get a bfp eventually CAI80.

Try using the fertility friend website (fertilityfriend.com).Unless you are having sex every day, you may not be getting the timing right. Some people have unusual timing with ovulation. Taking your temperature and printing out the charts to take to the doctor will give your Doc a starting point.

Hmmm interesting that I came across your post, I'm wondering the same thing.

We've been "kind of" TTC#3 for 7 months (ie not really timing it, but not using protection). But for the last 4 months we've been seriously TTC (charting, timing, OPK's etc).

I know it's not a long time, but I'm 31 and DH is 34. Our DD's are 5 and 3 so the gap is just getting bigger and bigger - I didn't really want more than a 3 year gap between kids.

Furthermore, I had an Ectopic two years ago and lost a fallopian tube, so I know that's going to cause some problems. So we'll go see the doctor this month I think, just to make sure that apart from the missing tube, everything else is under control!!! Piece of mind!!

we had been TTC#2 for just over 12 months before going to see the GP. I had been doing OPK's and monitoring CM closely, so was confident we were BD at the right time.He referred us stratight to a FS.

From there the first step was seamen analysis for DH, lots of blood tests for both of us, and an 'assesment cycle' for me. This involved regular visits to the clinic (every couple of days) to check folicle development and hormone changes. I also had a dye test (hycosy) to check falloptian tubes. Turns out my tubes were blocked (who knows how!), so we could have been trying for a lot longer unsuccessfully.

I knew we were not getting anywhere (PCOS diagnosed based on other symptoms in my teens before active) but DH wasn't ready to cross that bridge so first "official" appointment was 18 months TTC.

Doc's words (not great on the bedside manner): "Wow you waited a bit - 18 months, so you are infertile then" Based on the standard TTC 12 months = infertile until proven otherwise!!

Just found out this month that we have been "giving up" a week too early. Because my cycle is slightly longer than the norm (33+ days average) we stop DTD when the TCOYF software (similar to Fertility Friend) says we have passed the fertile window, (good old day 14ish) but we are most likely stopping a week too early!! (hmmm not really worried about the romance aspect there are we!!)

took 21months to fall pregnant with DS, never went to the doc about it, just figure it would/could take a while.

now, we have been TTC#2 since DS was 3mo, (now he's3y2m) and just went to my OBGYN yesterday. Having hormone tests, as well as a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and D&C done just in case anything has been missed (GP tested me for PCOS, came back neg)...

6 months for us, because I have PCOS (diagnosed at 15) and got one period during that 6 months. I kept testing thinking I was pregnant, but after six months of baby dancing every second day and still not getting a proper cycle (or a positive test) I went and got help to try and get a cycle happening (which didn't happen, so onto IVF). The first six months without help were very frustrating for us/me.

If I had normal cycles we would have waited the 12 months required as an absolute minimum (we were only 28 when we started TTC, so a 12 month wait is required before testing, it's 6 months for women over 35). I would personally prefer it to take longer and conceive naturally if it were possible. Testing and treatment is very invasive and (once you get to IVF) extremely expensive, plus I just HATE having to see my specialist and sit in waiting rooms and get blood tests etc 8 or so times every month, so I'd have definitely put it off as long as I could before going down that road. It's all such a huge pain. If we could take a break and TTC naturally for a while we would do that, even if our chances were much lower. Having answers helps though, especially when something is clearly wrong, so there is definitely some relief there, but you can be opening a can of worms that is very overwhelming. I wish I had known what I was getting myself into, because I would have somehow prepared better (no idea how, but I just wasn't prepared at all!).

It's a personal choice how long you wait, some people are already getting impatient by 12 months and others just aren't ready to go through testing just yet. We have friends who have waited much longer than two years to get tested. For us the past two years have been a nightmare with IVF and every test imaginable, but for them their two years of TTC has been ok - they want a baby but TTC hasn't taken over their life the way it has with us, because they're just doing the deed when required so nothing invasive/scary/expensive/time consuming. They will come to that point when they feel ready and it may happen for them in the mean time, it may not. Everyone has their own timelines. There are other factors like age, location and finances too.

My cycles at present range from 28 days to 36 days (when on pill was like clockwork, 28 days all the time but I don't think that means much really )

Libbylu, thanks for the website details, will have a look. Aliciaandhannah, sorry to hear about your ectopic but keeping my fingers crossed for you. Leni2010, re the blocked tubes, very interesting! eyesabove, good luck and let us know how you go...I feel as though my cycle has been all over the place so maybe the timing isn't quite right and needs a bit more practice - hopefully Jorgo, thanks

Bunbaked, 21 months - wow, that is a really long time. I do hope that you get your bfp soon. ladybaba, you are right, I don't want it to take over our lives or start getting stressed about it. We've been dtd every second day so... yeah... LOL! I hope that yours comes through soon. You are right, having answers does help and set ones mind at ease.

Thanks so much to you all for your advice and opinions, it is greatly appreciated. Hoping that all of you who are still awaiting that special bfp, that you get it soon!

We saw our GP after about 8 months 'actively' ttc (that is, after my period returned after going off depo provera injections - 14 months in total after last depo injection wore off). I was 31, DH 34 at the time however we thought we might have some issues in the DH department due to previous jobs/injuries he'd had. Sure enough issues with sperm quality (I am fine - no problems) led us to IVF and we got our BFP following our second round in November last year.

I got PG in the 4th month off the pill. Unfortuantley the pregnancy wasn't viable and I had a misscarriage. I then spent 6 months waiting for my body to get back to being "right" - but it just didn't. My cycles were everywhere (up to 35 days), I was gaining weight, had crazy pimples etc and I just felt like something wasn't right. When I saw my doc in June 2010 we had "technically" been TTC for 12 months and she said my anxiety was valid, so sent me off to the FS. Sure enough, I was diagnosed with PCOS.

My biggest lesson learnt is that you know your own body. If you think something is wrong, get is checked out. Best case senario is that you will get confirmation that everything is fine and it just needs time.

Unfortunately for me, time wasn't going to help, and I'm now in the middle of my first IV cycle. I honestly wish I had known what was wrong sooner. Knowing what I know now, I would have gone straight to IVF. But as previous women have said, it's different for everyone.

We've been TTC for only 3 months and for our age we should wait 12 months but DH booked an appointment in Feb to get a semen analysis because he was born with an undescended testicle and it's been giving him trouble throughout his life. I'm seeing a naturopath next month because since coming off the pill 18 months ago I've been getting spotting for a couple of days before my AF and I think my progesterone is dropping too quickly after it peaks; also need to address PMS symptoms.

If there are valid reasons for getting checked out earlier, I don't see why a doctor would turn you down.

My friend freaked me out the other day as she asked me if I was worried yet that I wasn't pregnant. We have been TTC for just on 6 months now and no luck.

She knew she had PCOS so even though she is under 35 they went for the tests after 6 months and sure enough had to go down the IVF route.

DH had a sperm test last year (for an un-related reason) and got excellent results so if there is a problem, its likely to be me.

I'm not sure I am ready to face that just yet so we are going to continue to try (and I'm going to start charting etc) for another 6 months before I take that step. If I go to my doc for something else in the meantime, I might mention it to see what she says but until then I'm just going to keep praying.

BJBubbles, sorry to hear about PCOS, hope that you get that BFP sometime soon. Ami06 and than4, thanks for sharing and the advice, yeah - I"m just hoping it is timing! LOL, we've even be doing the every second day thing with no result so far.

I guess I will just wait and see for now I suppose - to everyone that has responded: My thanks and I hope that you all have a positive result soon - fingers crossed for you all Hope all ttc journeys become fruitful.

We TTC for 23 months before falling pregnant with DD. Te first 6 months were kinda on/off trying, due to some insensitive comments from some "friendds" and DF got cold feet, but we started trying properly again after that.

At 18 months of absolutely nothing I went to a gyno, who gave me referrals for all these tests, and I just put them off, and then it was Christmas (I work in retail so extremely stressful time of the year) and was planning to go get the tests done in feb (they had to be done at a certain point in my cycle) but I got my BFP on Australia day.

We actually started TTC#2 when DD was 5 weeks old. W knew it would take awhile, and we really wanted a small age gap, but as I was breastfeeding I knew my chances weren't so high. So just kept up with temp charting and OPKs and finally got my BFP after 13 months.

I should also add, I knew I was going to have problems getting pregnant, I have a balanced translocation, and I also suspected I had PCOS that has never been confirmed but I have quite a lot of symptoms of. I was only 22 when we started TTC so we had plenty of time up our sleeves, and weren't particularly worried.

After 6 months TTC i went and saw my GP....but more because i knew there was an issue as i wasn't getting AF, so like he said, there's an obvious issue so may as well start finding out what that is. I'm very grateful he didn't tell me to wait.

We started by having regular blood tests to check whether or not i was ovulating. After than it was an internal ultrasound which confirmed PCOS. He put me on medication which got AF going, kind of, but no BFP. After months of this, i got a referal to a FS. She wanted to put me on meds too, but first i had the tube dye test to ensure there wasn't a blockage of any kind. No point taking the meds if there's a blockage.

First round of TTC after that dye test i got my BFP.

Not sure if it was the test, coincidence or the fact that i chilled knowing i was in the good hands of my FS.

Good luck.

I am new to the health care system in Australia. Did you get your GP to order the blood test and ultrasound? My GP just told me that I need to see FS for these. Unfortunately, I have no medicare so seeing the FS is going to cost me a fortune so I am postponing to see the FS.

"Hey, come here a second," my mum said as she replaced the book in my hands with a wooden spoon covered in what I prayed was red sauce. Together, we walked into the kitchen and hovered over the skillet like we were peering into a crystal ball. Looking into my future, I saw me eating a lot of take away.